what exactly does it mean to be a mason?

Answer 1

Unlike others who may answer this, DeeDee, I belong to an Order of Freemasonry that admits women and men, of all races, and all religions (as long as they believe in a Supreme Being). We are called The American Order of Co-Masonry.

Although I am a man, many of my "Brothers" in Freemasonry are women.

We do not see Freemasonry as a social club that raises money for good causes; although, we do indeed raise money to help good causes. While you might read that Masons help only other Masons, that is not the case. Our charitable contributions are pretty well spread to things like women's shelters, cancer funds, and anyone who makes a sincere request. Yes, we do help each other (in lawful ways) just as you would help a relative if their need were made plain to you.

What Freemasonry is to us is more of an alchemical process to change the lead in one's heart into gold. We change society by changing ourselves. Freemasonry is a beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols. Freemasonry, at least in my experience, requires its members to work toward changing themselves, becoming more serviceable to humanity.

Co-Masonry for me also means driving 200 miles each way to the Lodges I belong to. That is 800 miles a month. And then there is Grand Lodge at least once a year in Colorado. I try to attend the August one.

It means meeting with a fellow Mason who is trying to memorize things for his proficiency testing. That takes at least an evening a week.

It means different things for different Masons. My lady is Bro. Musician for our Lodge. It means she has to cue up and be responsible for all the music we play and sing to. I am Secretary for one of my Lodges. That means I have to type up the Summons (telling when the meeting will be, what is on the agenda) and send it out to all the Brothers. I also type up and read the Minutes of the meetings.

It can mean as much or as little as you personally want it to mean, DeeDee. Just like anything else, it is a mirror.

A Master Mason
American Co-Masonry

Hiram Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)
Amon Ra Lodge (Los Angeles, CA)
Sapientia Lodge of Research (Larkspur, CO)
Adamant Mark Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)

Answer 2

At my lodge men meet, eat dinner together and talk. I see these men as role models. The bond there is like father to son, brother to brother. I learn for their life experience how to be a better father, husband, and man. .

The famous line most masons quote is we make good men better. At a lodge you learn how to be a better man not just a better person. You learn how to be honest trustworthy and hard working.


I am 29 and having many friends that range in age from 20 to 85 really lets you understand what life is about. Talking with people that have been where you were and talking to people that are where you are going helps put your life in proper prospective.

Also we do a lot Of charity work and giving back to the community.

We do not recruit or invite people to join if someone wants to join all they need to do is ask

Answer 3

this question got here up some week in the past, i'm re-posting parts of a prior answer I gave... Conspiracy theroies aside- none have any foundation in fact and have all been shown fake-the best answer to the question "What do Freemasons do?" is "we strive to be greater useful human beings." that's that straightforward- and it perplexes me that some human beings have self assurance that this can not probable be sufficient for somebody to stay with a company. yet i will assure you, there is very much of delight in being component of a company that, above and previous the training of morality of your very own chosen faith, reminds you that your can provide to different individuals recommend something, that your handshake is binding as is a freelance, that there is a point of self recognize and extensive-unfold morality expressed on your strikes- Masonry respects guy or woman liberty and ideology, and encourages civil, useful, lifelike and prudent habit. Masonry isn't a faith, nor a cult, and it is not a faith or a surrogate to faith by using layout or purpose. Masonry first and best demands the Mason not violate the dictates of his very own chosen faith, in different words, a Christian Freemason would desire to be first a solid Christian, a Jewish Freemason would desire to fist be a solid Jew, and so on. Masonry is a fraternity, a company it particularly is a catalyst for adult men of differing faiths, politics, social classification and existence adventure to learn and prepare techniques that go beyond all of those interior the undertaking to greater useful themselves and greater useful serve mankind. wish this helped.

Answer 4

It means you get the cool title of being a mason.

Answer 5

Masons are a very private society of people (from all walks of life) who do good things and do not want any praise in return. A kind of "Do good deeds and don't brag about it" thing.